Publications by authors named "Schmitz B"

Given their abundance in human fecal samples, crAssphage and Pepper Mild Mottle Virus (PMMoV) are proposed as indicators for human enteric viruses. This study measured crAssphage and PMMoV in raw sewage samples (n = 24) between June 2014 and May 2015 from two wastewater treatment facilities in southern Arizona, USA. Both crAssphage and PMMoV were detected in nearly 100% of samples.

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Background: In actinic keratosis (AK), field cancerization describes areas of skin where multiple visible AK lesions are surrounded by healthy looking skin containing non-visible (subclinical) lesions. As all AK lesions have a risk of progression to cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, experts advise field-directed treatment. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an effective field-directed treatment option for AK; however, long-term efficacy data are still scarce.

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Background: Participation in cardiac rehabilitation (CR) reduces risk of cardiovascular mortality, improves functional capacity and enhances quality of life in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). eHealth-based CR can increase participation rates, but research into effective components is necessary. The objective of this systematic review was to identify effective behavior change techniques (BCTs) used in eHealth-based CR interventions.

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Purpose: This brief report aimed to characterize inter-individual training responses following a single session of high-intense whole-body electromyostimulation (WB-EMS) using markers of muscle damage over a period of 72 h.

Methods: Twelve healthy individuals (5 men, 7 women; 32.0 ± 7 years) participated in a single 20-minute high-intensity WB-EMS training session.

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The increase in the number of people with mental disorders and the relapse rate of depressive patients give reason to constantly question and further develop psychotherapeutic interventions in order to stabilize therapy effects. Studies show that the art of living, described as the ability to lead a conscious and reflective life, can be learned and trained. The question arises as to what role the development of "art of living skills" have played in the treatment of depressed patients to date, and to what extent the targeted promotion of art of living within the framework of the therapy of depressed patients has an effect on the well-being and the level of depression that goes beyond this.

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Background & Aims: Post-COVID-19 Syndrome (PCS) is characterized by symptoms including fatigue, reduced physical performance, dyspnea, cognitive impairment, and psychological distress. The mechanisms underlying the onset and severity of PCS point to mitochondrial dysfunction as significant contributor. This study examined fat oxidation as a function of mitochondrial capacity during exercise.

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The aim of this study was to investigate the use of image-guided volumetry in cerebellar infarction during the decision-making process for surgery. Particular emphasis was placed on the ratio of the infarction volume to the cerebellar volume or cranial posterior fossa volume. A retrospective, multicenter, multidisciplinary study design was selected.

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Article Synopsis
  • Post-COVID-19 Syndrome (PCS) includes various symptoms like fatigue, cognitive issues, and psychological distress, and exercise-based rehabilitation has been shown to be effective for patients seeking recovery.
  • A study of 145 PCS patients, with gender differences taken into account, found that women had a higher baseline exercise capacity but greater improvement after rehabilitation, while men had different pulmonary function metrics.
  • Overall, rehabilitation led to significant improvements in cardiopulmonary fitness and quality of life for both genders, with suggestions for more focused respiratory training for women suffering from PCS.
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  • Cardiac rehabilitation improves symptoms and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD), but maintaining a healthy lifestyle afterward is tough; RehaPlus+ is an innovative eHealth program designed to encourage consistent physical activity (PA) post-rehabilitation using behavioral change principles.
  • This study compares the effectiveness of the RehaPlus+ program, which includes personalized motivation digital messages for 6 months, against traditional outpatient care that includes in-person training sessions after rehabilitation.
  • Results showed that RehaPlus+ led to similar or improved outcomes in physical activity levels, psychological well-being, and quality of life among CAD patients compared to usual care, supporting the potential of eHealth solutions in post-rehabilitation support.
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We address the hypothesis that at early and late lactation milk presents low ethanol stability due to high acidity and ionic calcium values. Our aim was to evaluate the functional traits of milk (milk ethanol stability: MES, acidity and ionic calcium: iCa) according to lactation stage in different genetic groups. Raw milk samples were collected from Jersey ( = 271), Holstein ( = 248) and Jersey × Holstein crossbred cows ( = 82), raised on five commercial farms located in the state of Paraná, Brazil.

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Article Synopsis
  • The Chicxulub impact, which happened 66 million years ago, is marked by a global layer rich in platinum-group elements like ruthenium, serving as a boundary between the Cretaceous and Paleogene eras.
  • We analyzed ruthenium isotopes from various impact sites, including those from the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary and older impacts, to determine their origins.
  • Our findings suggest that the Chicxulub impactor was a carbonaceous asteroid from beyond Jupiter, while other impacts were linked to siliceous asteroids originating closer to the Sun.
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Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) is an environmental approach to monitor community health through the analysis of sewage. The COVID-19 pandemic catalyzed scientists and public health professionals to revisit WBE as a tool to optimize resource allocation to mitigate disease spread and prevent outbreaks. Some studies have highlighted the value of WBE programs that coordinate with public health professionals; however, the details necessary for implementation are not well-characterized.

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The goal of epilepsy treatment is seizure freedom, typically with antiseizure medication (ASM). If patients fail to attain seizure control despite two trials of appropriately chosen ASMs at adequate doses, they are classified as having drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE). Adverse events (AEs) commonly occur in people with DRE because they are typically on ⩾2 ASMs, increasing the potential for drug-drug interactions.

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Objective: Self-management interventions may enhance health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in epilepsy. However, several barriers often impair their implementation in the real world. Digital interventions may help to overcome some of these barriers.

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Water reuse as an alternative water supply is increasing throughout the world due to water stress and scarcity; however, there are no standard practices for monitoring virus pathogens in such systems. This study aimed to identify suitable surrogates for virus fate, transport, and removal throughout a water reuse scheme. Various microbial targets (11 viruses, two phage, and three bacteria) were monitored using molecular and culture methods across all treatment stages in a wastewater reclamation facility and advanced water treatment facility.

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It is important to have reliable information on the presence/absence, population structure, and density of animals across their natural range. Detecting small organisms, however, such as the Nearctic tree trunk sheetweaver spider Drapetisca alteranda Chamberlin 1909 (Araneae: Linyphiidae), presents challenges due to its diminutive size and cryptic nature. We used a capture/recapture study to determine the detection and recapture probabilities of this spider using a standard beat sheet technique adopted for surveying tree trunks.

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Objective: We examined post-concussion symptom presentation, exercise, and sleep among pediatric athletes who sustained concussion during the school year vs. summer months.

Methods: We evaluated athletes 6-18 years old within 21-days of concussion.

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Background: Regarding treatment of women of childbearing potential with epilepsy, several aspects of family planning and desire to have children have to be taken into account.

Objective: Overview of current data on mutual implications of epileptic seizures, antiseizure medication (ASM), pregnancy and child development.

Method: Review of the current literature, discussion and presentation of resulting treatment recommendations.

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Epilepsy is one of the most common neurologic conditions. Its clinical manifestations are not restricted to seizures but often include cognitive disturbances and psychiatric disorders. Prospective population-based studies have shown that people with epilepsy have an increased risk of developing mood disorders, and people with a primary mood disorder have an increased risk of developing epilepsy.

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Objective: In pregnancy, it is important to balance the risks of uncontrolled epileptic seizures to the mother and fetus against the potential teratogenic effects of antiseizure medications. Data are limited on pregnancy outcomes among patients taking lacosamide (LCM), particularly when taken as monotherapy. The objective of this analysis was to evaluate the pregnancy outcomes of LCM-exposed pregnancies.

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Background: Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) reduces recurrent cardiac events and mortality in patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Innovative eHealth methods can facilitate CR uptake and effectiveness by addressing barriers associated with clinic-based rehabilitation. Tailoring eHealth-based CR to patient preferences is needed to further enhance CR.

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Background: The use of eHealth technology in cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is a promising approach to enhance patient outcomes since adherence to healthy lifestyles and risk factor management during phase III CR maintenance is often poorly supported. However, patients' needs and expectations have not been extensively analyzed to inform the design of such eHealth solutions.

Objective: The goal of this study was to provide a detailed patient perspective on the most important functionalities to include in an eHealth solution to assist them in phase III CR maintenance.

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Fragment-based drug discovery (FBDD) aims to discover a set of small binding fragments that may be subsequently linked together. Therefore, in-depth knowledge of the individual fragments' structural and energetic binding properties is essential. In addition to experimental techniques, the direct simulation of fragment binding by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations became popular to characterize fragment binding.

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Introduction: Post-COVID-19 syndrome (PCS) is a multisystemic disorder marked by impaired physical performance as one lead symptom. Since it has been suggested that endurance training as part of medical rehabilitation may be effective in improving physical performance capacity in PCS, this study aimed to compare different modes of aerobic endurance training.

Methods: A total of 110 PCS patients (49.

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Regular physical exercise has been recognized as a potent modulator of immune function, with its effects including enhanced immune surveillance, reduced inflammation, and improved overall health. While strong evidence exists that physical exercise affects the specific expression and activity of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) also involved in immune system regulation, heterogeneity in individual study designs and analyzed exercise protocols exists, and a condensed list of functional, exercise-dependent ncRNAs with known targets in the immune system is missing from the literature. A systematic review and qualitative analysis was used to identify and categorize ncRNAs participating in immune modulation by physical exercise.

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